Support Philip Dawdy’s Furious Seasons Pledge Drive: Support Independent Medical Journalism

By Doug Bremner On February 26, 2009 · 13 Comments

Philip Dawdy is a journalist who writes about mental health news on his blog called Furious Seasons. Since the journalism industry is tanking (yes, I know, there were no newspapers around for you to read about it in) he has been unemployed for the past two years, but using his time well to do independent reporting, including breaking a story on sex scandals and Seroquel just yesterday. He is now conducting a pledge drive. I would ask you to consider him like NPR, to check out his site and pay online with paypal. Twenty bucks is fine.

I have pledged fifty bucks, and then promised to pay ten dollars for every psychiatrist who donated. As one of the readers of this blog pointed out, this pledge is not likely to break my bank, but is was a nice gesture. So I am willing to extend my generosity to the following classes of people, to match any pledge they make with the following amounts. Please don’t take this as a pecking order. I naturally put my own discipline at the top. Psychologists, but our group below the cockroaches if you want.

Psychologists, nurses, social workers: $2.00

journalists: $1.00

cafeteria workers: $0.50

Drug company employees: $0.25

Drug company CEOs: $0.10

VP for HR at Pfizer: $0.08

Chipmunks: $0.05

Squirrels: $0.04

Dead squirrels: $0.03

Cockroaches: $0.02

Pieces of wood: $0.01

My kids who take money from my wallet: $0.00

[March 1, 2009, Update: Philip posted my challenge for his pledge drive here. I added unemployed journalists ($1), ex everything of the above, and catnip mousie heads to the pledge].

13 Responses to Support Philip Dawdy’s Furious Seasons Pledge Drive: Support Independent Medical Journalism

Gianna says:

February 27, 2009 at 6:53 pm

hey I donated a week ago…I’m not a practicing social worker, but I was for over a decade…is that worth two bucks??

if in your estimation it is…pass it on to Philip!!
susan says:

February 27, 2009 at 10:02 pm

Doug,

I not only give every time, I also give him catnip mousies as well.

How many people can claim that, or are silly enough to do that?

I just mailed a check today with a box of Pounces for his girls….
susan says:

February 27, 2009 at 10:05 pm

Oh I just realized by your above criteria,

1.00 for an ex journo here . I also had 5 grad psych courses. I guess that’s another nickel you owe.

and as for the dead squirrels, I would have one for you if my cat was allowed outside. Will you accept a catnip mousie head?
Deborah says:

February 27, 2009 at 10:22 pm

Doug,

How about $1.75 for those of us who keep the psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and social workers employed?

Just a thought from an employed life long patient.
Doug Bremner says:

February 28, 2009 at 10:47 am

Ex journalists and social workers count, but I can’t afford to pay for all the current and former people treated with psychotropic medications. That would be too expensive!
Lisa says:

February 28, 2009 at 6:43 pm

I like the 10 cents for drug company CEO’s. That’s awesome!
Stephany says:

February 28, 2009 at 9:02 pm

Well, I’ve worked in a school lunch room cafeteria! that will be .50 cents to Philip please!
Therapy Patient says:

February 28, 2009 at 10:05 pm

What are student teachers worth?

With all the surrounding schools laying off huge numbers of teachers (Hayward: 300, San Francisco: 450, etc), I am guessing about as much as a piece of wood.
Marissa says:

March 2, 2009 at 9:31 am

I’m a journalist and I donated to Philip. Thanks.
Doug Bremner says:

March 9, 2009 at 12:16 pm

OK, here is my tally:

Psychiatrists: Gene Combs and dguller (on FS site): $20
Social workers, psychologists: Sherry, IntheWild, Gianna Kali, 6$
http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/
Journalists: Puckett, Marissa
(http://diffthoughts.blogspot.com/)
Susan,
http://ifyouregoingthoughhellkeepgoing.blogspot.com/
$3
catnip mousie heads. (via Holley the cat) .50
Cafeteria workers: Stephany. .50
http://bipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com/
Gianna says:

March 9, 2009 at 1:00 pm

thanks Doug! this was generous and kind of you!!
susan says:

March 9, 2009 at 1:52 pm

Doug, for the catnip mousie head, Holly and any cats that come after her promise never ever to put a catnip mousie head in your bed like the horse head in the Godfather.

Now this is a big deal considering we live in SopranoLand.
Doug Bremner says:

March 9, 2009 at 1:52 pm

psychiatrists: $60 (wow, I didn’t think there would be any):
psychologists/nurses/social workers: $12
journalists: $4
cafeteria workers: .50
catnip mouse heads: .50

total: $77